Steering or stabilizing device for aeroplanes.



W. H. McMULLEN. STEERING 0R STABILIZING DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES.

, APPLICATI ON FILED IAN-6.191L: 1,237,072. Patented Aug. 14,1917.

INVENTOR- Mlle? VWITNESSES' ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. McMU'LLEN, OF WHITESTONE, NEW YORK.

STEERING 0R STABILIZIN G DEVICE FOR AEROPLANES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. Mo- MULLEN, a'citizen of the United States, residing at Whitestone, in the county of tion, will operate with a minimum of head p and which, by reason of portion of an aerofoil aileron, it is to be understood that invention may be embodied in ciples of the resistance, thus overcoming the objection of this character commonly present in the operation of steering and stabilizing planes in common use.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a steering or stabilizing plane which diminishes side drift or skidding and at the same time is not liable to bind or to be otherwise constricted in its movements, its construction, is ally braced objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed,

reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure l is a rear or supporting plane of an aeroplane, showing the application of the invention in the form of an aileron.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fore-and-aft section through the plane taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

' ile, for purposes of exmplificatiomthe is herein shown in the form of an the prina vertical or horizontalrudder or any other suitable type of steering or stabilizing plane.

Referring to the drawing, l designates an Specification of Letters Patent.

in the controlling perspective view of a Patented Aug. 14, 191 '7.

Application filed January 6, 1917. Serial No. 140,976.

aeroplane,

aerofoil or supporting plane of an a cut-out which is s own as provided with controlling actions.

he aileron 3 is hingd at its forward edge to the main plane 1, as indicated at 4, movements as set forth, and carrles a vertically disposed fin or vane 5. fin or vane comprises a substantially triangular body portion, having its forward end 6 curved on the arc of angular body portion proper of the vane is bifurcated longitudinally to form upper and lower bility fins.

The plane 3 and vane 5 may be constructed of any suitable material and rigidly-united in any suitable manner, and the curved or rounded enlarged portion of said vane is dethe vane 5 thus serving further as a bracing or strength ening element for the aileron and as a guidin operation effectually will be seen that the vane 5 strengthens the aileron to adapt it to more effectually withstand the strains imposed thereon and also guides said aileron in its movements so as to avoid any liability of The rounded surfaces of the portion 6 of the vane '5 form in effect quadrants, and

these quadrants are grooved, as shown at a circle. The tri- 9, to receive the outer ends of controlling cables 10 and 11, which are fixed at their extremities thereto, as indicated at 12, said cables passing over guide pulleys 13 to the body of the machine for connection with a suitable control device in the usual manner. Preferably the main plane 1 is made hollow and the cables are extended along the interior thereof, thus concealing and protecting them, with the result of reducing liability of the cables becoming entangled and their inner end of the slot 8 forms a movements interfered with or of said cables being exposed and acting as resistance surfaces. v

. The guide pulley 13 in proximity to the guide for the. ends of the cables fastened to the quadrant surfaces of the vane 5, and properly disposes the respective cables for reverse movements in unison for up-pulling and down-pulling actions to correspondingly adjust the aileron 3. It will thus be understood that when the cable attached to the upper quadrant surface is drawn upon and the cable attached to the lower quadrant surface relaxed the plane 3 will be adjusted upwardly, while reverse movements of the cable ends will result in the plane 3-b'eing moved downwardly, whereby said plane may be easily and conveniently operated for controlling actions. It will be observed that in all of the adjustments of the ends of the cables attached to the curved or quadrant surfaces of the vane, said cables will lie in contact with said surfaces, which will always maintain the same taut, whereby the cables will be prevented from stretching or becoming loose and tangling and catching in any possible obstructions, or in being exposed to offer a head resistance to the flight of the craft. It will be understood, of

course, that the vane 5, in addition to its functions hereinbefore set forth, serves as a vertical stability surface to prevent side drift or skidding of the machine, whereby such objection is prevented.

1. A controlling device for air craft comprising an adjustable lateral balancing plane, a vane'carried by said plane between the ends of the latter and disposed at an angle thereto, and means connected with the forward end of the vane for efiecting adjustments of the plane.

2. A controlling device for air craft comprising an adjustable plane, a vane carried by the plane and disposed in a plane perpendicular thereto, said vane being provided with surfaces and controlling cables secured to said surfaces and movable in opposite directions to effect adjustments of the plane.

3. A controlling device for air craft, comprising a plane, a vane carried by and disposed at an angle to the plane, and projecting above and below the same to form antiskidding surfaces, said vane extending beyond the leading edge of the plane and means connected with the forward end of said vane for controlling the plane.

4. In a controlling device for air craft, the combination of a main plane having a slot therein, a small plane hingedly connect ed with the main plane for adjusting movements, a vane carried by the small plane and disposed at an angle thereto and having a portion projecting into said slot andmovable therein, and means connected with said' projecting portion of the vane for adjusting said small plane.

5. In a controlling device for air craft, the combination of a main plane having a slot therein, a small plane hinged to the main plane for adjusting movements, a vane carried by the small plane and projecting at right angles above and below the same, said vane comprising a substantially triangular body portion having its enlarged end projecting beyond said small plane and into said slot in the main plane and provided with curved surfaces forming quadrantal ortions, and cables connected with said quadrantal. portions of the vane for communicating adjusting movements to the small plane. j

6. In a controlling device for air craft, the combination of a hollow main plane having a transverse slot extending through one of its edges, a small plane hinged to said edge of the main plane for adjusting movements, a vane disposed at an angle upon the small plane and having a portion projecting therefrom into said slot, said projecting portion of the vane being formed with quadrantal surfaces above and below its center, guiding elements on the main plane, and cables guided by said elements and extending through the hollow main plane and having terminal portions secured to said quadrantal surfaces for communiciiting motion through the vane to the small ane.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM H. MCMULLEN. 

